Spiral separator



Sept. 9, 1924.

SPIRAL SEPARATOR Filed .July 28. 1923 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept'. 9, 1924- 1,507,890 F. PARDEE, JR sPrnAL 'sEPAAToR Filed July 28. 1923 2 Sheena-sneer 2 Patented Sept. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,507,890 Farrar- OFFICE.

FRANK Panna-E, JR., or HAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB. To vAN'IHnaoi'in SEPARATOR COMPANY, F H'AZLETO'N, PENNSYLVANIA.'

SPIRAL SEPARATOR..

Application filed J'u1y28,- 1923. Serial No'. 654,308.

To all whom t may conce/Mii Be it known that I, FRANK PARDEE, Jr., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, have invented certain newvand useful Improvements in Spiral Separators, of which the lfollowing isa specification. v j

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of adjustable spiral sepa- Spiral separators are commonly used for separating coal from slate and otherimpurities which are frequently mined in greater or lesser percentage with the coal. Such separators depend upon friction and centrifugal force to separate the coal from the slate. It has hcretofore'been proposedto build a separator made of sections some of whichA are comparatively rough and some comparatively smooth and certain ofA these sections have been adjustablyv mounted so that the frictional area of the separator runway can be varied. In one form of separator heretofore used the runway has been built up of a series of segmental plates having friction pads secured thereto `and pivoted plates have beenv secured to the runway adapted to be swung so as to cover or uncover the friction pads in order to vary the frictional area ofthe runway. In such prior constructions the pivoted plate for covering or uncovering the friction surface has been mounted so as to move .through a cut or slit formed in one of the segmental plates of the separator. An example of lsuch prior constructions is shown in the patent of John I-I. Becker No. 1,270,365 dated June 25,1918. My invention relates to the type of separator therein shown and aims to provide various structural improvements as hereinafter set forth in detail.

An embodiment of the inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.; Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the separator. larged side view showing a friction jacket in its exposed position. Fig.v 3 ris a similar view showing the friction jacket retracted ieneath one of the plates on the separator runway. Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views illu strating yrespectively the friction jacket in its exposed and retracted positions. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical Asection online 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 2 is an enf f Fig. 7 isa detail view on line 7 7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a modifica'- tion. i

The separator illustrated has two runways indicated at lO'and 12 over which the material to be separated travels, such material being fed` to the upper end of the runways through suitable feed chutes 14 and 16. Part of the pure coal traveling along the outer Zone of the runways and 12 falls off the outer edges thereof and is caught in the conveyor spiral 18 which delivers it to a suitable discharge bin, not shown. The runways 10 and 12 are of substantially the same' construction and a detailed description of one will sulice for both.

' A central supporting post v20 carries a number of spirally arranged rods 22 which extend outwardlyy and upwardly in a substantially radial direction. vThese rods support the platesv which make yup. each runway. The conveyor thread 18 is supported in a similarmanner by a plurality of rods 24 as shown in Fig. 1.

The separator runways y10 and 12 each comprise a series of substantially triangular shaped s egmental plates 26 which overlap 'l one another as best shown in Figs.v 2 and 3, the lower portion 28 of each plate extend# ing beyond the upper portion 30 ofthe adjacent plate.l The lower portion of each plate is offsetas shown at 32 in Fig. 6 so asto provide an opening 34 through which a ljacket adapted to vary the. frictional area lof the runway can be moved. The surface of therunway can `be roughened anda jacket moved outl from saidroughened surface to cover the same, or as illustrated in the form of the invention shown, a friction jacket 36 can be moved to the position shown inFigs.`

2 and 4 where the greater part of its friction surface is exposed. vThis friction jacket can beretracted as` 'shown in F igs.V 3 and 5 "so as to present practically none of its surface to the material traveling on the runa comparatively small adjustment. In the way. By positioning the jacket in various' improved design shown herein practically the entire surface of the friction jacket can be exposed when desired or said jacket can be entirely withdrawn so as to entirely eliminate the frictional effect thereof kthereby giving a wider range of adjustment than prior constructions.

The adjustable jacket 36 is arranged to be moved in an arcuate path which is substantially concentric with the 'axis of the central supporting post 2O of the separator. lith jackets pivoted to the runway as in former constructions the pivots and the space between the movable and fixed jackets frequently became clogged with a dust and small particles and frequently jammed so tight as to interfere with the adjust-ment.

In the improved construction herein shown there are no pivotal joints and the adjustable jacket 36 is very loosely mounted and passes' freely through the opening 34 between the overlapping portions of the adjacent segmental plates. At its rear end each jacket 36 is formed with a downwardly extending` flange 38 which is secured by rivets 40 to a flange 42 formed on a member 44 which member at its rear is provided with a pair of downwardly extending ears 46 which straddle the spiral bar 48 which is mounted for substantially circular move ment in guides 50 secured to the radial rods 22. The spiral bar 48 `can be moved by any suitable means for example by a lever 52 shown in Fig. l which may be pivoted to any suitable support and connected by a link or pin and slot connection with the bar 48. When the bar 48 is moved it is arranged to simultaneously adjust or position the several of the movable jackets 36 arranged along the spiral runway. To this end the bar is provided with means for transmitting its movement to the jackets 36 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A sleeve 52 which passes through an opening 54 in the member 44 is secured to the bar 48 by means of a bolt 56 and a nut 58. The sleeve 52 passes quite freely through the opening 54 so that the jacket 36 may move toward and from the bar 48 in a substantially vertical direction or stated more accurately it can move to and from the bar in a direction at right angles to the diy rect-ion of the movement of the jacket 36.

- plate converges.

Because of the overlapping arrangement of the segmental plates 26 forming the runway it will be noticed that the distance between the lower end of one of the plates and the bar 48 (as indicated at a. in Fig. 2) is greater than the distance between the upper end of the plate 26 and the bar (as indicated at. 7)). In other words the space between the bar and the underside of a given segmental If the movable jacket 36 were rigidly secured to the bar, when the latter was pulled back the jacket would be jammed between the plate and the bar.

This jamming is avoided by the slip joint illustrated it being apparent that when the jacket is pulled back from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3, the sleeve 52 merely slips through the open-y ing 54 and the rear end of the member 44 drops down upon the bar and finds its own seat, the forward end of the jacket 36 of course being supported by the portion 30 of the segment-al plate 26. This arrangement permits the circular movement of the bar 48 to be readily imparted to the several movable plates 36 located at different portions along the runway without undue labor. The guides 50 for the bar 48 as shown are secured by bolts 60 to the radial rods 22. Each of these guides comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket 62 having anti-friction rollers 64 housed therein on opposite sides of the bar 48 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The several guides 50 are located substantially the same radial distance from the vertical axis of the separator therefore it will be understood that when the bar is moved it travels in a substantially circular path con centric with the axis of the separator.

From the foregoing description it is clear that the several movable members or friction jackets 36 are mounted in such a way that they can be moved together with relation to the runway and that their connection with the operating bar is in the nature of a slip joint which will not wedge or become jammed. It is also clear that in the design shown it is unnecessary to cut openings or slits in the fixed segmental plates on the runway for the passage of the movable plates 36 nor is it necessary to provide special cover plates beneath which the friction pads are withdrawn. In the drawings I have shown the sleeve 52 secured to the ring and passing freely through an opening in the member 44 and have shown the ears 46 straddling the bar 49 so thatl the plate orv 48 to straddle a portion of the member 44.

In the foregoing gures a member 44 is shown o-f substantially triangular contour `in plan, the flange 42 extending transversely f for practically the full width of the flange 38 on the plate 36 and the ears 46 being bent downwardly at the extreme end of said member 44.

As an alternative for the member 44 shown in Figs. l to 7 I may use the member 44a such as shown' in Fig. 8. This is of much less width than plate 36 and is formed of a simple rectangular piece with the corners at one end bent downwardly so as to form the ears 46a. This .member is formed with the opening 54 for the passage of the. stud 52 and is secured to the member 36 by rivets 40 pasing -through a flange 42a and the flange 38 of the movable member. This member 44a requires very -little cutting as it can be made from the rectangular plate stock, the ears being readily bent by any suitable dies or it can be easily bent to shape by hand too-ls.

Though I have described with great particularity a specific embodiment of the in vention herein shown it is not to be construed that I am limited thereto as various changes may be made and mechanical equivalents substituted without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I'Vhat I claim is:

l. In a spiral separator having movable jackets for varying the frictional area of the runway means for moving the jackets in an arc substantially concentric with the vertical axis of the runway.

2. In a spiral separator a runway formed of a series of segmental plates overlapping along their adjacent edges, said jackets having portions spaced apart where they overlap to form an open slit, and a movable jacket aranged to be moved through said slit in an arcuate path substantially concentric with the vertical axis of the runway.

3l In a spiral separator a runway formed of a series of segmental plates arranged to overlap one another in such manner as to provide openings or slits along the edges of said plates, a friction jacket movable throughone of said slits, a spiral bar for moving said jacket, and means for connecting the bar with said jacket so that they move together in the same arcuate path.

4. In a spiral separator a runway formed of a series of segmental plates arranged to overlap one another in such manner. as to provide openings on slits along the edges of said plates,

a friction jacket movableJv through one of said slits, a spiral bar for moving said jacket, and connecting means whereby the bar and the jacket are movable together in a substantially arcuate pathv and i yet are free to move relatively to one another. in a direction substantially prerpenj dicular to their plane of movement.

5. In a spiral `separator a runway compris ing a series of segmental plates overlapping along their radial edges and having portions offset at such edges to provide a space x and said friction jacket whereby the circular movement of the bar is transmitted to the jacket yet the two are permitted to move relatively to one another so as to prevent the jacket being jammed when it is withdrawn belowl one of said segmental plates.

6. In a spiral separator having movable jackets for varying the frictional area of the runway, a spiral bar for moving said jackets in an arcuate path substantially concentric with the vertical aXis of the runway and means connecting the bar and the jackets arranged to transmit the movement of the bar to said jackets and yet permit the jackets to move towardl and from the bar so as. to prevent ljamming the jackets f against the underside of the segmental plates when said jackets4 are withdrawn.

7 In a spiral separator having movable jackets for varying the frictional area of the runway, a spiral bar for moving said jackets in an arcuate path substantially concentric vwith the vertical axis of the runway, said jacket having a member secured thereto which is provided with depending ears adapted to engage opposite sides of the barv and a stud secured to the bar and loosely engaging said member.

' In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

FRANK PARDEE, n..y 

